The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-10
BRECKENRIDGE AND BENJAMIN.
HOW THE TWO MEN MADE THEIR ESCAPE

HOW THE TWO MEN MADE THEIR ESCAPE
FROM THE COUNTRY.
Recently I saw in . Southern paper
q highly -colored and sensational account
of the narrow escape and flight of Gen.
John @. Breckenridge and Hon. Judah
P. Benjamin in their hasty trip through
| Florida in April, 1865, writes CORES
| pondent of the Philadelphia Times.
| Their fearful races and concealment to
elude capture, apprehensive of recogni-
tion, dangers encountered, deprivations
and psrils experienced, were all glowing
ly portrayed. In the Summer of 1875 l
met Gen. Breckenridge in Richmond,
and one Sunday afternoon We were sitting
alone in front of the Ballard hotel. l said
| that if not unpleasant, it would be graft
| flying to have him give an account OF his
| escape after the downfall of the Cenfeder-
acy and hc1 it occurred that Mr.. Ben
jsmin was separated from him. He re-
piled that he would cheerfully do so, and
said that after following Mr.. Davis some
distance OF the retreat he became satisf-
ed that Mr.. Davis had selected the most
| dangerous route, and to continue under
mis- guidance, which he persisted In,
| capture would be certain and inevitable.
81 decided TO pursue different course,
and taking with mo some trusty men and
| as few as possible, left Mr.. Davis and
his escort and struck off for the Florida
coast. Soon afterward, Mr.. Davis, as |
predicted, was captured. I met with
some soldiers of the Federal army.
| They did not recognize me, and nothing
specially occurred to cause me to appre-
bend my arrest or safety. l passed q
squad of them in gallop, but no de-
monstration WAS made against me, nor
did they seem to be aware who L was.
He said: "Having been accustomed in
early life to hunt and travel in the night
in Kentucky, recalled the experience
of my youth and adapted myself to
change of circumstances, travelling in
cognito and with few faithful aud fear
less followers. In short time, with
nothing specially periious during the
| journey, We reached the coast in safety.
| We then procured a small boat aud u
| supply of provisions, which were easily
obtained, as | was supplied with some
/ gold, and with small pocket compass
which | always carried with me, and
| with j. Taylor Wood and two others III
an open boat We started for the coast Of
Cuba. In two days and three nights of
the most delightful and propitious
weat hec we landed within one mile of the
island, our only guide being my pocket
compass. Capt. Wood fell overheard
! during the voyage, but wassoOn hauled
III, aud was not the least disconnected OF
! alarmed. He WAS one of the bravest OF
men After reaching Cuba l found
friends and accommodations. l remained
there brief time and :hen went to Paris
and back eventually to Canada. The
rest you are no doubt familiar with"
"Whcre was Mr.. Benjamin. l ask
! ed.
"He remained with me only day
after leaving Mr.. Davis. He WAS re-
markabla man; could adapt himself to
/ any society or circumstances; could speak
| French, German, and other languages
| huently. He travelled through the coup
| try as q Jewish merchant, and sailed
/ from Charleston, so [ have learned"
! | made a memorandum of this CONVEX
sation at the time, and this is a verbatim
report